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(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jonathan Bentley.
This Australian import opens with baby penguin Gilbert's magnificent view of a seabird-filled sky. As he grows, Gilbert makes repeated efforts to soar, without success. The illustrations of soaring seabirds, snowy vistas, and underwater landscapes are splendid. Cleverly, the text plays with the story's premise: "up up up" at the opening is followed by "down down down" as Gilbert discovers the breathtaking "second sky" under the waves.

(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jonathan Bentley.
Enchanted by her neighbor William's kite, Daisy runs away with it and hides it at home. Eventually, she returns it, scratching an apology in the sand by his front gate--and then Daisy's new friend William helps her make her own kite. Holmes's simply but evocatively told story (first published in Australia) avoids sermonizing. A kite-flying wind seems to blow through the appropriately loose pencil and watercolor illustrations.

(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Jonathan Bentley.
A girl describes her favorite kisses: "pecky kisses" from the hen, a "fluttery kiss" from a butterfly, a "sorry kiss" after fighting with a friend, and of course "snuggly-cuddly-mommy" kisses. But the kisses she likes best are "great big bristly-growly-daddy" kisses. Digitally enhanced pencil, ink, and wash illustrations in shades of yellow and orange add humor to this amusing catalog of kisses.

(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Jonathan Bentley.
A little boy basks in his stuffed animal's admiration ("I'm Duck's hero"). When Duck goes missing, the child realizes how much he needs and admires Duck. The pictures are both spare and expressive, but they provide no foreshadowing for the toy's whereabouts; and although the ending is nicely circular ("Duck's my hero"), it's also a bit forced.